San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-10
CHAPTER XIV,

CHAPTER XIV.
One evening had been down to the lake
to meet Gilbert, in an hour stolen when Mr..
Crawford Garden was poisoning Mr.. Gas
cOigne's ear and counting the favor of the
old man he looked upon as childish enough
to be cheated by his duplicity and duped by
his fiattery. | knew that in the end he
would find himself deceived, for, after his
departure, Mr.. GaScogne would chuckle,
and say to me
Clever man, Viola! Pm an old rOt fdirl-
cant, and he is going to checkmate me in the
next move. He knows how to play two
games at a time, does Crawford Garden, and
he will win them, as he deserts. lie knows
there's a little sum to come to him under
my will, for the last made he himself Sug-
gested should be drawn up by another law
yer, and shouldn't be surprised If he ex-
poets the Grange"
How can you bear to have him about you
when you think THAR? cried.
But he only laughed in his dry way.
On this night, as | was coming back
through the Grange shrubbery, came sud
denly face to face with Gwendoline POM
erOy. She stood perfectly still in front of
me, without speaking word.
Lady Martin! exclaimed.
had never tied her by her Christian
name, although such was her own wish,
preferred in one of her periods of friendli-
ness, and having its root in dislike of her
married title. 1t was a curious stormy
friendship that existed between us; some
times she would be almost paSSiOnatcly at-
fectOnate, at others she flunG me aside
when would have sought her with an iul.
patience as fierce. Never for an hour to-
gether could tell what her humOr would
be; but never was she happy, and always
restless and changeable.
Your she said abruptly. "Why are you
not with uncle Richard? Why are you Out?"
II came to see Gilbert. You are taking
late ramble; but it is such lovely night,
far pleasanter out of doors than in"
Yes" she said perhaps it is"
MAY | walk up the terrace with you? |
do not want to 90 in yet. Mr.. Gascoigne
does not need me, and it is hot and close in
the house."
81 am not going on the terrace, and Idont
want company"
turned away-l was accustomed to her
petuance; still wished she would walk on
the terrace, for down this narrow walk be-
tween the rhOdOdendrOnS | knew Crawford
Garden would be coming before long.
wondered If the three girls ever suspected
anything of his visits, and | could not ask
them for my promises sake; but, If Gwen
dOline had let Inc join her in friendly mood,
l think | must have been impelled to induce
her, with the strongest words could use,
without actually relating facts, to dismiss
her maid; for that very evening, as | came
out, had seen Mr.. Garden enter the Grange
by the little Side-dOOr, and by the door Ma
thilde met him, and | saw her place in his
hand nOte-the record of her own spying.
AS l walked towards the house GwendO-
line stepped back and laid her hand on my
arm.
Viola" she cried, don't leave me! Stay
with me, whether want you or not. Don't
leave me here by myself. YOumuSt OtgO."
Dear Lady Martini" said at once TAX
ing her hand in my own, you know want
to stay. | should like to be here under the
stars and among the trees for an hour. 1t
is so calm, and the air so sweet with the
roses! Let us go down the rose arcade.
Calm! Is 1t calm?' she cried passion
ately. II think it is the calmness hate. l
should like to be by stormy sea, and hear
the wild wind and the waves night and day,
hear the waves lashing the shore and the
wind moaning and shrieking! Let us go
away to the sea-shOre Viola, somewhere
Can't we do it?'
ut might be good for you to have change
and sea-air," answered quietly. ut is dull
here, and the mOnOtOny tires YOU"
YES" she said, in the same hurried way
tkot iaf II mill iii 10
tony and its calmnessl When you leave my
uncle-it will be only few weeks now, will
it3-you must come with me, and we will
forget every one and everything we have
known, and we will watch the storms and
the sea till we grow calm with their fury"
Where shall we gO?" asked.
could not contradict her in her wild
mood, though felt her fancies were only
fitting ones. She laugheda little hysterical
laugh.
Fool me to the top of my bent, ViolaI"
she said sarcastically. what is the sea-
side? Noise and rabble and brass bands.
What are you? The promised wife of Gil
bert GascOigne, fancying yourself very much
in love with him, and that you could not be
happy day away from him. What am /?
A prisoner here, consigned by my husband,
with my sisters, and perhaps you too, as
guardians. Let us go and walk among the
roses, and say we will be,
Living and dying,
Sweet roses, like theei"
We were still in the narrow shrubbery
path, and, as quickened my steps in obedi-
ence TO GwendOline's behest only too glad
10 hasten away, l sawa man coming towards
US. 1t could be no one else but Crawford
GARDEN